A Day I Won't Soon Forget...

Today was a very special day for me. I will admit—I am going completely out of order from telling all about my clinical experiences in order. But this is too great to share!

Dr. Cardwell, my preceptor for my surgery rotation, and I had nothing on the surgery schedule today, which is unusual for us. We went to 9 West to round on one patient. After we were done there, he told me to go down to the OR and find “something interesting” to watch. So, I wandered down to the OR, looking at the large board full of names of patients and surgeons, with different surgeries to be taking place. I wasn’t finding anything that jumped out at me right away. I had done laparoscopic cholecystectomies, hernia repairs, cyst removals, etc. I was looking for something that really made my day—something I had never seen before… And I spotted it. “12:00 PM—C-section of triplets”. I knew I wanted to be there! However, I didn’t know the physician, and I sure didn’t know my way down to Labor and Delivery. I got up the nerve to ask one of the receptionists if there was any way to watch, or if the physician would even let me in the delivery room! I was assured that it would be okay. I watched to clock tick away, anxious to see the surgery…

After talking to the patient, she and her husband had tried to conceive using the typical methods. They then tried fertility drugs—nothing. They finally considered having an egg donor help them. They conceived, using only 2 eggs. However, one of the two eggs split! Thus, three babies!

The time had come. The patient was draped, given her spinal block, and laid back on the table. Show time! The babies’ father walked into the room and took the head of the bed by his wife. He was nervous, but beaming! The incisions were made through the skin, the fat, the fascia, and finally, the uterus was exposed. One incision and a HUGE clear gush of amniotic fluid came out! Within seconds, the doctor was pulling on the head of Baby A—a boy! He was crying a high-pitched squeal from the moment he was born. Next, within 30 seconds, came Baby B—a girl! She had a full head of hair! Finally, just a few seconds later, Baby C was born—another girl! She presented breech, but came out easy. They all cried the high-pitched cry I am assuming nearly all newborn babies cry. I having to admit—I stood out of the way at the end of the table, with a tear in the corner of my eye too. I had never seen any baby that small and healthy—let alone three at once!

I watched as the babies were carried to the warmers, rubbed clean, and folded up in blankets. I was honored when the father of the babies asked me to take pictures. What an amazing moment for this family! I was so happy to be apart of it. All of the triplets were healthy and happy and pink! What an amazing feeling to be a part of God’s glory and grace. Happy birthday, Samuel Dalton, Emily Elizabeth, and Anna Sophia. Welcome to the world!

Rotation #1--Family Practice I

Okay, so I should have been blogging after each rotation. I realize this. If I can post my experiences, then I will have a better feel for what I like when it comes time to graduate. Speaking of graduation, my last day of clinicals is December 15, 2010, and graduation is December 17th. We are looking at six more months. This is exciting!



My first rotation was with Stacy Vienhage in Republic, MO. This was my first famly practice rotation out of two family practice rotations. I really enjoyed this rotation. It was nice to have a good hometown feel. Stacy was really great to work with, and I learned so much about womens' health and chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. We had a lot of fun, and we had a lot of laughs. The office staff was really great. Unfortunately, Stacy left this St. John's Clinic to go to work full-time in the St. John's ER. She left a huge hole in this practice, as she has been there the longest out of the three providers that are there. I have a lot of respect for Stacy. She allowed me to shadow her to get into PA school, and she even wrote my recommendation letter for school. And then she was my first rotation! I was grateful to have her. I am not sure that I would be here without her.

Busy is an understatement...

I am sorry that I haven't been so prompt with all of my posts. One of my readers reminded me that I haven't blogged since AUGUST!! And for that, I apologize. It's nice to have such great friends that remind me to GET BLOGGING!!! :) I also apologize as the somewhat monotonous nature of my posts. I have a feeling my clinicals will offer some more interesting stories. :)

I plan to finish this post with mainly filling you in about August through December. (I will post about all of my clinical rotations individually.) The fall semester was my favorite. It's quite possibility due to the fact that my learning and training has been building upon itself. Unlike so many of the classes that I had in undergrad, my classes build upon each other, and the learning isn't forgotten at the end of the semester. The classes are so practical. I found myself answering questions about things that, if I had looked at myself two years ago, I would have had no idea what was being discussed. My classes were Clinical Problem Solving, Epidemiology, Clinical Medicine II, Clinical Practicum II, Clinical Procedures, and EKG/ACLS. I ended the semester with 4 Bs and 3 As. I'll take it!!!

At the end of the semester, I had a one week clinical with Dr. Larry Chase at Cox Hyperbaric Wound Clinic. I figured that I would be going to look at wounds here and there and doing some dressing changes. Maybe slapping on a little Neosporin here and there.... Wow, I am impressed with the vast amount of information and care that goes into wound healing. There is so much to learn about the origin of wounds (arterial vs venous), chronicity of wounds, types of skin grafts, wound infections, and types of dressings. I feel that I learned a lot in the week of that clinical. There is so much more to wounds than Neosporin and Bandaids.

At the end of the semester, on December 20, Mike and I celebrated... by getting married! We had such a beautiful day. He looked so handsome in his tuxedo, and I felt like a princess in my gown (first time ever feeling like a princess!). We were blessed with an outside temperature of 53 degrees in the middle of December! The week before had been around 20-25 degrees, and I was checking the weather updates every day to see what was in store for us on our wedding day. We were praying for good weather, and we got it! Mike and I had our closest friends and family with us, and the day was VERY special. I can truly say it was one of the best days of my life.

After our wedding, we honeymooned in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. It was truly Heaven on Earth. I have never been more relaxed and care-free in my entire life. The water was more soothing, colors more vivid, food more satisfying, and people more beautiful than anything I have ever experienced... I can wait to go back...

The only bad part of the honeymoon was leaving. Mike and I returned to a "warm" 27 degrees back here in Missouri. All in all, we were sad to leave Jamaica but happy to return home. It was only two weeks later that I was to be in my first clinical. I was somewhat nervous going into my first clinical, but I was fortunate enough that my first one was with Stacy Vienhage in family practice at the St. John's--Republic clinic. It was close to home, and I was looking forward to it! More to come!